Perth Voice Interactive

WITH Refugee Week taking place June 18-24, this week’s history corner from the City of Vincent Library looks at the experiences of Ukrainian refugees and their connection to the Vincent area. 

SINCE the latest conflict between Russia and Ukraine began, millions of Ukrainians have fled to neighbouring countries. 

About 5000 Ukrainians have taken refuge in Australia. These recent arrivals have joined earlier waves of refugees, migrants and displaced persons who came to Australia after World War II. 

Many of these Ukrainians lived through the Soviet imposed famine of Holodomor in the 1930s, forced labour in Germany, pressure to return to the Soviet Union after World War II and prolonged periods in Displaced Persons camps in Europe. 

Refugees

Researcher and educator Dr Lesa Melnyczuk Morgan has been collecting the history and stories of Ukrainian migrant refugees in Western Australia for many years. 

Dr Morgan said the first Ukrainian immigrants arrived at the port of Fremantle on October 11, 1948 on the boat Kanimbla.

“The families, which were mostly from German ports, were welcomed by the WA authorities,” Dr Morgan said.

“They were settled in hostels and camps in Graylands, Northam and Cunderdin. 

“The majority were sent to Northam. Slowly after working off their passage, Ukrainians moved into Perth City or country towns near the camps.”

In Perth during the 1950s, a small but tight-knit community of Ukrainians congregated around institutions including the Ukrainian Association of WA, which was officially incorporated in 1951. The association bought a parcel of land on Hann Street Leederville in 1955 and set about building a community hall. 

The foundation stone for the hall was laid in 1957. After lots of community support and fundraising, it opened in 1961. 

The hall became an important focus for the Ukrainian community in Perth from the 1960s until the 1990s it made way for the Mitchell Freeway on ramp on Southport St. 

Dr Morgan said the hall was a special place for local Ukrainians.

“Ukrainians were and are very social people who love their culture, with music, dancing and food that reminded them of better times with their families and homeland, Ukraine,” she said. 

“We all grew up attending events and social occasions in the hall that we called our WA Ukrainian home.

“The City of Vincent was integral and central in the development of our Ukrainian cultural and also growth as New Australians.”

Dr Morgan has published several history books on the subject of Ukrainians in WA including Holodomor: Silenced Voiced of the Starved Children and Silent Memories: Traumatic Lives.

In recent years, Dr Morgan has also published several children’s books based on themes of family, love, care and Ukrainian history. 

Dr Morgan will be presenting a talk about her work and Ukrainian refugee experiences at the City of Vincent Library and Local History Centre during Refugee Week on Wednesday, June 21, 10-11.30am. 

To book a seat for this free event, contact the library on 9273 6090 or book online at Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.com/2axtpvwa